John Wiley & Sons Publishes Third Edition of Bestselling Textbook Wind Energy Explained

Content

Three noted wind-energy experts from our Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) Department – first author James Manwell (the founding director of the Wind Energy Center at UMass Amherst) and co-authors Emmanuel Branlard and Jon McGowan – have joined co-author Bonnie Ram from the University of Delaware in publishing the third edition of their celebrated textbook, Wind Energy Explained: On Land and Offshore. According to publisher John Wiley & Sons, Wind Energy Explained is “an authoritative and bestselling textbook detailing the many aspects of using wind as an energy source.”

The publisher goes on to say that “Wind Energy Explained provides complete and comprehensive coverage on the topic of wind energy, starting with general concepts like the history of, and rationale for, wind energy, and continuing into specific technological components and applications, along with the recent developments in the field.”

According to John Wiley & Sons, the third edition of this famous textbook includes up-to-date data, diagrams, and illustrations, including the addition of 35 percent new material. The new sections focus on: 

• metocean (meteorological and oceanographic) design conditions; 
• wind-turbine design;
• wind-power plants and the electrical system; 
• fixed and floating offshore wind turbines; 
• project development; 
• permitting and environmental risks and benefits; 
• turbine installation, operation, and maintenance; 
• and high-penetration wind-energy systems, including energy storage and “wind-to-fuel.”

Wind Energy Explained also includes information on modern wind turbines, covering the design and their many components such as the rotor and drive train. It explains generator aerodynamics of wind energy and such technical details as “the one-dimensional momentum theory, the Betz limit, and ideal horizontal-axis wind turbine with wake rotation.” 

The book also describes environmental external-design conditions, such as wind, waves, currents, tides, salinity, floating ice, and many more. And the content expounds on commonly used materials and components, such as steel, composites, copper, and concrete, plus machinery elements, such as shafts, couplings, bearings, and gears.

In addition, the book covers modern design methods, including probabilistic design, as well as the environmental effects and mitigation strategies for wind-project siting and the role of public engagement in the development process

As the publisher concludes, “This book offers a complete examination of one of the most promising sources of renewable energy and is a great introduction to this cross-disciplinary field for practicing engineers. It may also be used as a textbook resource for university-level courses in wind energy, both introductory and advanced.”

Over the years, the first two editions of Wind Energy Explained have garnered rave reviews. For instance, IEEE Power & Energy Magazine said that the textbook “provides a wealth of information and is an excellent reference book for people interested in the subject of wind energy.” The International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education said that the book “deserves a place in the library of every university and college where renewable energy is taught.” And Choice noted that Wind Energy Explained is “a very comprehensive and well-organized treatment of the current status of wind power.” (July 2024)